What's the skinny on squats?

Options
24567

Replies

  • __RANDY__
    __RANDY__ Posts: 1,036 Member
    Options
    SQUATS ARE FOR AWESOME PEOPLE. (if you arent awesome, dont worry about it - no pressure to play)

    :flowerforyou:

    QFT
  • capriqueen
    capriqueen Posts: 974 Member
    Options
    SQUATS ARE FOR AWESOME PEOPLE. (if you arent awesome, dont worry about it - no pressure to play)

    :flowerforyou:

    That's a whole other story.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    Options
    I currently squat 155 lbs. I can crush a skull with my thighs . . . . but only if I'm in the mood. :tongue:
  • sandiki
    sandiki Posts: 454
    Options
    Why do women worry so much about how they will look if they do any form of heavy lifting/ squatting? It takes a long time to get all jacked up. In the begining the increase is all water from the stress of tearing it up. The body will adjust. If you like the feeling and the look of a firm body just do the damn workout.
  • __RANDY__
    __RANDY__ Posts: 1,036 Member
    Options
    I can crush a skull with my thighs . . . . but only if I'm in the mood. :tongue:

    need a volunteer?
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Options
    Oh, thanks a lot for that. I keep seeing these forums where people clain their thighs got bigger because of squats, and how only cardio/pilates helped them. I kind of like weight-lifting- I find it fun and challenging and a great stress-reliever for my otherwise hectic work routine.

    Thanks again!

    I have seen those too. I have yet to see one who actually took measurements and or photos and posted them.
    Also, a lot of people mistake losing fat and being able to see the muscle as "building" muscle when it isn't. Others experience slight swelling after a workout (which is typical and temporary) and worry it is muscle building. I experience the same thing when I start running after a long layoff.
    I can't remember if I mentioned it in this post or not, but I do have a before and after picture in my photos of starting out overweight, then starting strength training and cardio along with a diet high in protein. My thighs definitely got smaller, not larger.

    Agree
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Options
    Kind of what Im scared of.

    What are you scared of?

    That if I don't get to burning the fat first, I will end up putting on muscle with the fat staying, so that I'll have bigger ones than before.

    That's not how it works. You won't put on muscle eating at a calorie deficit and squatting bodyweight plus 8lbs. Especially as a woman. Even squatting heavy you won't. To build muscle you need to eat a surplus of calories and lift heavy (there are few exceptions like newbie gains however that still won't amount to a large amount of muscle)

    ^^^This

    I've been squatting heavy for years and my thighs are just over 19 inches (and no flab, thank u very much). My diet is in check, which is ultimately why my legs are in shape. If your diet isn't in check no amount of squatting is going to get your legs smaller.
  • Muddy_Yogi
    Muddy_Yogi Posts: 1,459 Member
    Options
    SQUATS ARE FOR AWESOME PEOPLE. (if you arent awesome, dont worry about it - no pressure to play)

    :flowerforyou:

    ^^THIS
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Options
    Honestly. Going through these forums drives me crazy, how true is it that squats bulk up/make your thighs larger? I always thought muscle build was dependent on the diet we eat, I'm already eating at a deficit. The squats/lunges I do are part of JM. I have 25/24.5 inch thighs and 38''hips. (I know, humongous). I don't expect to reduce more than 2 inches on them because even if I lose weight all over it's very difficult for me to lose there.

    But I love the squats and lunges. I'm more used to cardio so the strength training seems like a challenge. Is it okay for me to continue with this or am I really at a risk of growing larger thighs? I'm a pear.

    Thanks in advance!
    1) It is nearly impossible to add muscle mass while in a caloric deficit (aside from slight noob gains).

    2) Women have about 1/10 the testosterone of men, which makes adding mass even more difficult without "supplementation" (anabolic/androgenic steroids). Even under optimal diet/training conditions (caloric surplus, adequate protein intake and a heavy lifting routine), women can put on about 1/2 pound of muscle per month. A half-pound a month. Getting hyooge overnight by accident isn't going to happen.

    3) You don't gain muscle mass without progressive overload - pushing weights progressively heavier and causing your muscles to have to grow in response to the increased load. Doing squats and lunges to a Jillian exercise video doesn't constitute the kind of strength training routine necessary for hypertrophy (gain in muscle size).

    The most likely scenario is a decrease in the size of your thighs due to fat loss (assuming a caloric deficit) and an increase in strength due to neuromuscular adaptation (your nervous system adapting to the stress being placed on it and causing your existing muscle mass to work more efficiently to handle it).
  • evdenapoli
    evdenapoli Posts: 164 Member
    Options
    My legs are starting to look super sexy, all thanks to squats. They are not big, or bulky (man I hate those words!) They are getting defined and strong.

    For the love of God just SQUAT!



    LOVE IT! lol
  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
    Options
    Actually squatting "heavy" is not the best way for anyone to build visual size anyway...
  • thecanface
    thecanface Posts: 1,180 Member
    Options
    Squat+vs+No+Squats.jpg
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Options
    Initial "size" gain is due to muscle swelling, from glycogen and water uptake to repair the damage.
  • MemphisKitten
    MemphisKitten Posts: 878 Member
    Options
    Do Pilates if you're apprehensive about your thighs becoming larger. But keep in mind that unless you are trying to "bulk up," your thighs and butt will more than likely become more shapely and smaller over time if you strengthen the muscles in your legs. Mine have more of a sexy shape now and I am much stronger since I starting including squats, lunges, and plyometrics into my strength training. Also remember that building muscle in your lower body will help you burn more calories throughout the day because our largest muscle groups are in the lower body. :wink:
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    Options
    Squat+vs+No+Squats.jpg

    A picture is worth a thousand words... :wink:
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Options
    SQUATS ARE FOR AWESOME PEOPLE. (if you arent awesome, dont worry about it - no pressure to play)

    :flowerforyou:

    That's a whole other story.

    elaborate
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    Options
    Squat+vs+No+Squats.jpg

    BS. 1st pic woman is about 65 years old. 2nd pic woman is about 19.

    That being said my *kitten* looks great from squats and I don't have to arch my damn back like the porn wanna-be in pic #2 .
  • thecanface
    thecanface Posts: 1,180 Member
    Options
    Squat+vs+No+Squats.jpg

    A picture is worth a thousand words... :wink:

    what i mean to say is, having some "size" there isn't a bad thing :)
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Options
    My 1RM is nearly twice my body weight and I've gained two inches on my thighs (was 17", up to 19") since the summer. I was bulking then, then I cut and I'm down to 18" but still same 1RM, however, I can do 12 reps of my previous 5RM. Muscle mass =/= strength.
  • thecanface
    thecanface Posts: 1,180 Member
    Options
    well, Tara Reid is only 37 and hers looks worse..
    TARADIMPS.jpg


    do-squats.jpg

    just sayin..

Categories